Deshler chamber seeks solutions for group

Members of the Deshler Chamber of Commerce gathered for an important meeting Dec. 11 after president Jon Yoachim recommended the chamber reduce its activities for the coming year. 

Yoachim wrote in an email to members the primary topic of discussion at the meeting concerned the future of the chamber. 

“Dues paying members and participation are at all-time lows,” Yoachim wrote. 

He added the chamber could help with business marketing and chamber bucks instead of meetings and planning events. The chamber annually sponsors, including coordinating volunteers, for the Easter Egg Hunt, Trunk or Treat, Deshler Express in the Christmas season and its largest activity of the year, Deshler Daze. 

Yoachim said they’ve planned a Valentine’s Day fundraiser, turkey drawings and other smaller events. 

“It’s great we plan these events, but what are we doing for the businesses in the community? We do need to see a more direct benefit for members,” Yoachim said. 

Good ideas and questions came out of the Dec. 11 meeting, he said. 

Bob Reinke responded to Yoachim’s email and suggested the chamber become more involved, like it used to when the chamber board brought every decision to the entire group at every meeting. 

“We need to go back to that. We need to get everyone’s input and grow this group again,” Reinke wrote. He has since volunteered to be the chamber president in 2026. 

“It makes sense,” Yoachim said about Reinke’s response. “But if we’re trying to drive up membership, some people don’t want to be involved like that.” 

Member Michael Burger, owner of Victory Too, recalled Naomi Grupe’s style of directing the chamber. 

“She never did the same thing twice, but always had an activity,” Burger said. “She was good at doing something different every year and keeping it new and interesting, which kept people coming.” 

Burger said 16 people attended the Dec. 11 meeting. 

“We used to be the envy of every chamber around us,” Burger said. Former president in the 1980’s, Merlyn Pohlmann also attended the meeting. 

Pohlmann was the “new guy” who helped the Deshler community see what he, as a newcomer, saw—it resulted in a makeover for Deshler’s main street and pride from the community.  

“Every business had three or four people at the chamber meetings. The (Deshler) Rustler was the biggest keystone to the chamber’s success. Lois came to the meeting and brought her employees, like Joy Harms and Paulette Hynek. Jae Fintel of Hair Hut was also a guiding force. We used to actually have speakers there. I brought in Miss Nebraska Jacee Pilkington, Mike Stichka from C&M and Bill Kroll,” Burger said. 

Yoachim said Deshler doesn’t have as many people and businesses to recreate the 1980’s.

Reinke’s email had good points, he said. 

“We need business in Deshler and the chamber needs to work on that, like it did in the past,” Reinke wrote. “When Deshler needed a lumber yard owner, chamber members heard of someone in Elgin that might be interested.” 

Members went to Elgin and met the potential owner, drove him to Deshler and showed him the lumber yard and the town. 

“One member sold him a truck, cheap. The bank gave him favorable financing. Others promised to do business with him. He moved his family to Deshler and owned the lumber yard until he died. His wife and son ran it a couple more years,” Reinke explained. “This is what we need to do today to keep this town going!” 

Burger was encouraged by Harms to join. 

“I’ve been here now for 32 years,” Burger said.

He made a post on Facebook, thanking the group for coming to the recent meeting and posed a series of questions: 

When people search Deshler, Nebraska online, what do they see? What do they find?

Are there human interest stories about the people making a life here? 

Are the photos of the town and surroundings attractive and positive? 

Is the discourse on Facebook uplifting and supportive?

Are the educational opportunities like Deshler Lutheran, DPS and SCC easily found?